Will fight for Gorkha clan’s revival till death: GJM chief
DARJEELING UNREST Gurung threatens to intensify stir, says have right to fight for identity
Throwing a challenge to the West Bengal government, GJM chief Bimal Gurung on Friday announced intensification of the ongoing protest in the north Bengal hills and vowed to fight for “our community’s revival” till death.
Gurung, who resigned as the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) chief executive along with other elected members of the body during the day, said, “The agitation for Gorkhaland will continue. We have resigned from the GTA. Our one point demand is Gorkhaland.”
“I want to request everyone to participate in the movement for Gorkhaland from their heart. I will fight for the revival of our community till I have the last drop of blood in my body,” the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief said amid loud cheers from his followers.
The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader, who was not seen in public since a police raid at his residence in Darjeeling’s Patlebas locality on June 15, appeared before the media on Friday. “I am not Kishenji (Maoist leader) who can be eliminated in a police encounter. I have not taken up arms against the country. I am fighting for the identity of the Gorkhas and in a democracy I have every right to do that,” he said.
“The shutdown will continue indefinitely. No one knows when it will end. No relaxations will be given this time,” he said.
Alleging that the police had opened fire in the hills on June 17 in which three GJM activists were killed, Gurung said, “We (the GJM) have the video footage of the incident. .”
Taking a swipe at CM Mamata Banerjee for claiming involvement of terrorists in the Darjeeling agitation, Gurung said the terrorists and bomb-making factories were in the plains of Bengal. “She should be asked where are terrorists and bomb factories found? In south Bengal or here in Darjeeling,” Gurung said.